tent
1[ tent ]
/ tɛnt /
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noun
a portable shelter of skins, canvas, plastic, or the like, supported by one or more poles or a frame and often secured by ropes fastened to pegs in the ground.
something that resembles a tent.
verb (used with object)
to lodge in tents.
to cover with or as if with a tent: In winter the tennis courts are tented in plastic.
verb (used without object)
to live in a tent; encamp.
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Origin of tent
1First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English tente, from Old French, from Latin tenta, feminine of tentus, past participle of tendere “to extend, stretch”
OTHER WORDS FROM tent
tentless, adjectivetentlike, adjectiveOther definitions for tent (2 of 3)
tent2
[ tent ]
/ tɛnt /
noun
a roll or pledget, usually of soft absorbent material, as lint or gauze, for dilating an orifice, keeping a wound open, etc.
a probe.
verb (used with object)
to keep (a wound) open with a tent.
Origin of tent
2First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English tent(e), teint(e) “a probe,” from Middle French tente “a probe, roll of lint,” noun derivative of tenter, from Latin tentāre, variant of temptāre tempt
Other definitions for tent (3 of 3)
Origin of tent
3First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, tente(n), “to plan, intend, look after,” derivative of tent(e) “attention,” shortening of attent, past participle of attenden “to pay attention to, heed,” from Old French atente “attention, intention,” from Latin attenta, feminine of attentus, past participle of attendere to attend
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use tent in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for tent (1 of 4)
tent1
/ (tɛnt) /
noun
- a portable shelter of canvas, plastic, or other waterproof material supported on poles and fastened to the ground by pegs and ropes
- (as modifier)tent peg
something resembling this in function or shape
verb
(intr) to camp in a tent
(tr) to cover with or as if with a tent or tents
(tr) to provide with a tent as shelter
Derived forms of tent
tented, adjectivetentless, adjectivetentlike, adjectiveWord Origin for tent
C13: from Old French tente, from Latin tentōrium something stretched out, from tendere to stretch
British Dictionary definitions for tent (2 of 4)
tent2
/ (tɛnt) med /
noun
a plug of soft material for insertion into a bodily canal, etc, to dilate it or maintain its patency
verb
(tr) to insert such a plug into (a bodily canal, etc)
Word Origin for tent
C14 (in the sense: a probe): from Old French tente (noun), ultimately from Latin temptāre to try; see tempt
British Dictionary definitions for tent (3 of 4)
tent3
/ (tɛnt) /
noun
obsolete a red table wine from Alicante, Spain
Word Origin for tent
C16: from Spanish tinto dark-coloured; see tint
British Dictionary definitions for tent (4 of 4)
tent4
/ (tɛnt) Scot /
noun
heed; attention
verb (tr)
to pay attention to; take notice of
to attend to
Derived forms of tent
tenter, nounWord Origin for tent
C14: from attent attend and intent
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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